Dublin’s Culture Connects & Business To Arts Is Offering Communities Great Opportunity

Interested groups can apply for one of four places by completing an application form by 5pm on Monday, 11 September.
This joint programme between Dublin’s Culture Connects and Business to Arts, the Fundraising Fellowship, Dublin initiative aims to develop the pool of fundraising expertise in cultural organisations.

The four successful groups will receive training and mentorship in the areas of sponsorship and marketing, which will be facilitated under the guidance of Business to Arts by the new Fundraising Fellows Dublin: Temple Bar Gallery + Studios; Helium Arts; Fishamble: The New Play Company and Dublin Theatre Festival.

Any community group in the city can also book to attend an Introduction to Fundraising Seminar on Tuesday, 14th November at the Wood Quay venue.

Commenting, Dublin’s Culture Connects Project Director, Iseult Byrne said: “Training in the area of marketing and fundraising in arts and community organisations is an area that needs support. In an effort to address this, Dublin’s Culture Connects has partnered with Business to Arts on the Fundraising Fellowship, Dublin. This programme aims to develop fundraising expertise, not only in our partner organisations, but also in community groups in the city. We are now looking for community organisations to tell us why they should be part of this fundraising expertise-sharing initiative.”

To be eligible to apply for the 12-month programme, organisations must fulfil a number of criteria. These include that the groups must:
Be located in the Dublin City Council area.
Be in existence for a minimum of three years.
Have a future planned programme of activity for at least 12 months.
Have at least one paid administrator.
Have an advisory board or steering committee.

Chief Executive of Business to Arts, Andrew Hetherington added: “I believe this is an appropriate way for community organisations to gain insight and develop their skills to raise funds. This will help to sustain their organisations and build on the community initiative for which they are a driving force. Any group that fits the criteria should strongly consider applying to the programme.”

The Fundraising Fellowship is also developing online resources to help community groups in the area of sponsorship and marketing. The first of these is an animated video that gives an overview of how to develop a marketing plan. Narrated by Dublin City councillor, Rebecca Moynihan the three-minute video is entitled “Writing a Kick-Ass Marketing Plan for your Community Organisation or Cultural Project.”

Iseult Byrne said: “Developing a marketing plan can be a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. This animated video explains the various elements in a marketing plan and what should be included. We hope that this simple ‘how to’ video will help cultural organisations and community groups to get the word out on who they are and what they do, and to celebrate their successes.”

Cultural and Community organisations have until Monday, 11th September to sign up to the Fundraising Fellowship Community Mentoring Initiative. The programme will begin in mid-November.

Further details can be found on the Dublin’s Culture Connects website http://www.dublinscultureconnects.ie or by emailing [email protected].